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toc **Dear Students and Caregivers,** Welcome to my classroom wiki. If you are not familiar with a wiki, it is a type of web page used to organize information in various ways and can be used flexibly to meet many needs in the classroom. This page will provide classroom policies and procedures, classroom links and assignments, a place for students to submit work, and other resources for students and parents alike. In other words, this will be CENTRAL to student success in my classroom. Please feel free to make suggestions for improving it!

Thanks for visiting,

**Ms. Jennifer Perl** Social Studies, Grades 8 and 9 Parish Hill Middle/High School

**Please check frequently for updates! ** **Last update: 9/15/2010 **

Student Work Portals

 * U.S. History 8**


 * World History 9**

__**Absences & Tardies**__
If a student is absent from class, it is the student's responsibility to contact the teacher the first day s/he returns to school in order to collect any makeup assignments and materials. See Makeup Work section below for more details.

Students must have a pass from a member of the school faculty to enter class late without penalty. High school students who have three unexcused tardies are counted as having one unexcused absence. Keep in mind that 20 absences results in loss of credit and will require the course to be taken again before graduation.

A student entering the classroom late with a pass should come in silently with all necessary materials, hand the pass to the teacher, and sit in his or her assigned seat. A student without a pass should also enter silently, fully prepared, and be seated immediately, but should not disrupt the class to notify the teacher that there is no pass.

__Absent Agenda__
The Absent Agenda is an extra student agenda for each class that will be updated daily by student leaders to include classwork and homework assignments and due dates. The Absent Agenda will be available for students to reference upon return to school after being absent. The Absent Agenda is a useful resource to students who need to make up work, but it does NOT replace the need for students to check in with the teacher upon return to school.

**__Agendas__**
Student agendas are distributed by the school during the first week of school. Agendas serve two main purposes. The first is as an organizational tool for students so they may record daily assignments and due dates in their various classes. The second is as a hallway pass with a special section that must be filled out and signed by the teacher. Agendas must be kept in clean condition with the student's full name written clearly on the first page to be used as a pass. Agendas that do not meet this criteria will not be acceptable as passes.

__I strongly encourage students to use their agendas to keep track of assignments in all classes.__ This is an essential habit to begin in the early years at Parish Hill to enable success as each grade level becomes more complex and demanding.

__**Academic Integrity**__
Many of our assignments will require collaboration with other students in the form of group work and posting discussions on secure web sites, such as this one. However, most assignments are meant to be done individually and are expected to reflect the original thinking and work of the student handing it in. Students caught plagiarizing or cheating will receive an initial grade of zero for that assignment and will be expected to make it up on their own time for a new grade of up to 60% in accordance with school policy.

__**Announcements & Morning News**__
When class is interrupted for an announcement over the P.A. system, students are expected to be silent and listen to the announcement. Even if the announcement does not pertain to them personally, they should be quiet until the announcement is complete. During the daily Morning News program, students are given the opportunity to say the Pledge of Allegiance. During this time, they should either stand and recite it, or, if they choose not to recite it, they should remain seated and silent. During the announcement portion of the Morning News, students should remain seated and silent, attentive to the program. If there is time after the news and before the bell, students should use that time to get organized, write assignments in their agendas, read quietly, or chat quietly with their neighbor. Students must remain seated until the bell rings and the teacher dismisses them.

__**Assignments**__
Class assignments are expected to be done in class. If a student cannot complete the assignment in class it may be completed as homework, at the discretion of the teacher. Homework assignments are expected to be done outside of class or in class only if all other in-class assignments have been completed. Homework assignments will be posted on the appropriate class wiki as much as possible.

__**Behavior**__
Students are expected to treat all people and property with respect and consideration for safety. Students are expected to follow directions from adults and refrain from physical contact that is distracting, potentially dangerous, of a romantic nature, or otherwise inappropriate in the classroom. Behavior infractions will be dealt with according to the student handbook and will involve parental contact for frequent and/or serious offenses.

__**Bells**__
Bells are used to denote the time periods of each classroom. Students have four minutes between most class periods. Students should be in the classroom, quiet and seated, before the first bell of class. Students should remain seated and on task until the teacher dismisses them even if the bell has rung at the end of class. __In other words, the teacher dismisses students, not the bell.__

__**Classroom Supplies**__
Students should ask permission to use classroom supplies unless a class project is assigned and it is understood that supplies are available for student use. All supplies in the teacher's corner are off limits without explicit permission from Ms. Perl.

__**Computer Use**__
Students using computers on campus must first have submitted a signed computer-use agreement and must abide by those terms at all time. Students must receive explicit permission from the teacher to use computers in the classroom. Students who violate the terms of the computer-use agreement may face disciplinary consequences and/or lose the privilege of using the computers.

Many assignments in this class will require the use of a computer with an internet connection. If a student does not have access to computer/internet at home, they must bring a note from home confirming this. In this case, they will be provided with hard copy versions of the assignments or alternative assignments at the teacher's discretion. The library offers extended hours at least one day a week and can be accessed by students who ride the late bus home.

There are five student computers in the back of the classroom. Students may only use these with the permission of the teacher and must follow all terms of the computer-use agreement and any additional classroom policies set forth by the teacher.

**__Definition of "On Time to Class"__**
Student is sitting quietly in assigned seat with all necessary materials for class before the bell rings. A student who enters the classroom before the bell, leaves, and returns after the bell without a pass will be considered tardy.

__**Electronic Devices**__
In accordance with school policy, students may not have their cellular phone or any other electronic device (including but not limited to iPods, MP3 players, portable video game consoles, etc.) in class. Students observed having or using such a device will be asked to turn it over to the teacher immediately, who will then submit it to Student Services staff. See student handbook for further details.

__**Entering the Classroom**__
Students are expected to come prepared to class. Once a student has entered the classroom, s/he must stay in the classroom unless granted specific permission from the teacher to leave.

The student should first stop at the big white table to collect any handouts for that day's class and make sure s/he has all necessary materials for class, sharpen pencils, and get otherwise organized.

If there is a "Do Now" or warmup posted on the board, the student is expected to begin working on that assignment immediately. If there is not, the student should sit quietly and begin sustained silent reading (SSR), which extends to five minutes after the bell. Again, the first five minutes of each class will be sustained silent reading (SSR) of the independent reading book of the student's choice.

__If there is a written homework assignment, students should have it out on their desks during the first five minutes of class (SSR) so the teacher can mark it as completed on time.__

__If a student is entering the classroom late, s/he should come in silently and fully prepared with all materials.__ Upon entering s/he should silently hand his or her pass to the teacher and be seated. If there is no pass, the teacher will make a note of it and deal with the tardy in accordance to classroom and school policy.

__**Extra Credit**__
Students may earn extra credit when, during the course of normal class discussion, they ask a question that is on topic that I am not able to answer off the top of my head, and I offer them the opportunity to research it on their own for bonus points to use once to add to any assignment, quiz, test, or project worth 50 points or more.

Specifically, I must grant explicit permission for said research; student must bring research along with a reliable source of information to me or the whole class before the end of the unit we are studying; and students may not apply more than 10 points at a time to a given grade. Point values for individual "mini-research" are standard at two points, but maybe adjusted at the discretion of the teacher for topics that are more or less difficult to find reliable information on.

Students may also earn extra credit by writing quality submissions for The Pirate's Pride, Parish Hill's student-run newspaper. Students must get approval for extra credit before submitting to the newspaper.

__**Fire Drills and Emergency Evacuations**__
When there is a fire drill, students are expected to line up at the door in the back of the classroom and walk out of the building led by the teacher. This should be conducted silently. Classes in Room 134 line up on the athletic field near the soccer goal with Ms. Perl between Mr. Parkhurst and Mr. Radlo. Students should remain silent and in line once they arrive at the designated location on the field until the teacher has taken attendance and they receive further instruction from the teacher. Failure to follow these rules may result in disciplinary action due to the serious nature of these safety routines.

__**Grades**__
Students will receive a variety of assignments in this class. Some assignments are essential to form a greater understanding of the topic or skill we are learning at the time, but may not merit an individual grade. Those assignments that are graded, however, will be assigned a point value at the discretion of the teacher, determined by the difficulty level and amount of time required to achieve excellence. As a general guideline, tests, projects, and papers will be worth the most, with daily assignments and homework worth the least. Keep in mind, however, that the assignments worth fewer points are more numerous and are still make up a significant portion of the average in the grading process.

__**Handing in Student Work**__
With the exception of some tests and online assignments, any work to be handed in must be placed in the bin labeled for that class. Student work should never be handed directly to me or left on my desk or anywhere else. Work that is not submitted to the appropriate bin may not be graded or result in loss of points.

__**Homework**__
Homework provides an essential opportunity for students to build upon classroom learning, prepare for new concepts to be introduced, and to practice academic skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and time management. For specific homework policies, please follow the links below for the appropriate class. Homework will be posted on the appropriate class wiki.

__If there is a written homework assignment, students should have it out on their desks during the first five minutes of class (sustained silent reading time) so the teacher can mark it as completed on time.__

__**Late work**__
Classroom assignments and homework will earn up to half credit one day after they are due. After that they are considered a zero. Major assignments will lose 10 points (letter grade) for every day after the due date. If a student needs an extension on a major assignment, s/he must see me at least three days before the due date to discuss any additional time, which may be granted at the discretion of the teacher.

__**Leaving the Classroom**__
Students are not allowed to the leave the classroom without explicit permission from the teacher and a teacher-signed agenda belonging to the student requesting to leave. Students must be in possession of an agenda assigned to them. The agenda must be fully in-tact and have that student's (and ONLY that student's) full name written on the first page in the identifying information section. Partial pages, mutilated, or heavily defaced agendas will not be considered as usable for hall passes and will not be signed.

Students without an agenda who have a bathroom emergency will be given a written pass to the nurse's office, where they may use the lavatory and MUST have their pass signed by the nurse before returning. It is the student's responsibility to keep their agenda in good condition in accordance to the above criteria.

__These policies are in place to minimize students' time outside of the classroom and to maximize students' opportunity to learn by maximizing time inside the classroom.__

**//Lavatory//**
Students may use the lavatory a maximum of __four times__ per marking period. Any student requesting to use the lavatory after four times will be required to go to the nurse's office lavatory and return with their agenda signed by the nurse. Exceptions to this rule require parental contact for appropriate medical reasons.

**//Locker//**
During the first two weeks of school, students may request to use their locker and be given permission to do so at the discretion of the teacher. During this time students are expected to practice organizational and time management skills to become accustomed to what is required for each class. __After the first two__ __weeks of school, students will NOT be allowed to go to their lockers for any reason during class.__

**//Drinks//**
Students will not be allowed to leave the classroom to use the water fountain. However, students may have in class clear water (no drink mixes or other types of beverage) in a clear container. These should be filled between classes, as students will not be allowed to leave for this purpose.

**//Nurse//**
Students should request to go to the nurse during the first five minutes or last five minutes of class, unless it is an emergency. If a student uses the nurse's office frequently, a conference with the nurse and parents will be scheduled to discuss any potential medical issues that require further attention.

**//Student Services and Principal's Office//**
//Students should take care of necessary business between classes. Students may not leave class to go to the office unless s/he is called down by a member// of administration or the Student Services team, has a predetermined special arrangement, or requests to do so during the last five minutes of class and is given permission by the teacher.

**//Library//**
Students may request to go to the library to check out a book during the last five minutes of class only if they have completed all class assignments.

__**Makeup Work**__
Students who miss classwork and homework due to an excused absence will have the same amount of time to make up the work for full credit as they missed. For example, if a student is excused from school due to illness for two days, upon return to school that student will have two days to complete the missed work.

This cannot be overstated: __**It is the student's responsibility to check the Absent Agenda AND to see me on the first day they are back in school if they need makeup materials.**__ The makeup work grace period starts the day the student returns to school, NOT the day they ask me for the work. Any exceptions to this rule are at the teacher's discretion and require parental contact.

Students who miss work due to unexcused absences will not receive credit for work missed. However, it is in the student's best interest to obtain the missing materials and complete any missing assignments as it will help them succeed in new assignments without falling behind.

__**PowerSchool**__
Students and parents are encouraged to check PowerSchool on a regular basis to get information on assignments, work owed, and current grades. If an assignment has no number associated with it, that means it has not yet been graded and entered into the system. If an assignment has a zero listed, that means it was not turned in or was too late to be graded. I will update PowerSchool once a week at a minimum. Please contact me with any questions or concerns regarding grades in PowerSchool.

__**Seating Assignments**__
Students may be assigned seats in class. These are assigned at the teacher's discretion and with consideration of any individualized education or 504 plans. Students are expected to remain seated for the duration of class, unless expressly directed by the teacher to get up to get materials, hand in work, etc. This means students should NOT be getting out of their seat during class to throw away garbage, etc., unless there is an emergency situation that requires immediate attention, i.e. a spill that needs to be cleaned, etc. Otherwise, garbage should be discarded in the appropriate bin at the END of class.

__**Student Leadership**__
Students will rotate throughout the year as classroom leaders. The goal of this is to give students an opportunity to contribute within the classroom in a non-academic way, to encourage a sense of ownership of school property, build leadership and communications skills, and develop responsible habits of mind. Their jobs will include updating assignments on the board, timekeeping, acting as liaisons to substitute teachers, organizing daily handouts, setting up the Absent Agenda, monitoring classroom cleanup, etc. Job Descriptions

__**Student Materials**__
Classroom preparation is essential to success. This requires a good deal of organization and planning regarding the use of lockers and passing time between classes. Students should plan their days keeping in mind they may need to use the restroom or fill a water bottle, in addition to gathering academic materials, between classes. This means students may choose to only visit their locker between every other class and carry materials for more than one class in order to allow time for other needs. __Remember, students may not leave class to go to their lockers.__

Students should bring __every day__:
 * Writing instrument (pen and/or sharpened pencil)
 * Agenda
 * Independent reading (novel, appropriate magazine, etc.) for SSR
 * Binder/Notebook
 * Textbook and any other assigned reading
 * Homework/other assignments if due
 * Clear container filled with clear water (no drink mixes or other beverages) if desired
 * An extra layer of clothing such as a sweatshirt or sweater due to temperature fluctuations in the classroom

__**Sustained Silent Reading (SSR)**__
Students should bring with them to every class a novel or other school-appropriate reading material of their choice. __The first five minutes of every class will be devoted to sustained silent reading (SSR)__, unless there is a specific assignment posted on the board as a warm-up lesson. Students should sit in their assigned seats during this time and read silently. This is also an appropriate time to meet with the teacher to discuss individual issues such as makeup work or scheduling time for extra help. __If there is a written homework assignment, students should have it out on their desks so the teacher can mark it as completed on time.__ This is NOT an appropriate time to talk with classmates.

**__Tests and Quizzes__**
Students who miss a test or quiz due to an excused absence must meet with the teacher on the first day they are back in school to schedule a makeup time. The length of time allowed will be determined by when the test was announced and the reason the student was absent and will be the final decision of the teacher.

Students who score below 70% on a test or quiz worth 50 points or more may retake it for an average of the two grades, at the discretion of the teacher. Quizzes worth less than 50 points may not be retaken.

**__Wiki Rules__**
The class wiki will be an essential resource for us all. In addition to the rules of the school-wide Computer Use Agreement, there are some very specific rules. There is no "privacy" from me on the wiki. Therefore, you should never say anything via private message or otherwise that you wouldn't want me to see, because I will be monitoring exchanges frequently. __Your membership in the wiki is a privilege, not a right__. If you abuse the privilege, you will lose it. __There are no warnings__ when it comes to inappropriate, harassing, rude, profane, or threatening language.

Violating these rules will result in loss of membership to the wiki, alternative pen-and-paper assignments, and possible disciplinary action.


 * 1) Your password is ONLY for you and me to know. __You may not share it__ with anyone else and __you may not change it__. If you suspect someone else might know it, you must let me know immediately.
 * 2) You must NEVER share your full name or anyone else's full name on the wiki.
 * 3) You must NEVER share contact information (telephone, email, address) for yourself or anyone else on the wiki.
 * 4) You must NEVER post a photograph of yourself or another member of the school community on the wiki.

Contact information
(860) 455-9584 ext. 434

jperl@parishhill.org

Useful links
Parish Hill Middle/High School PowerSchool Tween Tribune New York Times Upfront News Magazine Scholastic News The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)